03 - vi Quick Guide for Beginners

#03 - vi Quick Guide for Beginners

##Why Do You Need to Know vi?

When you run git commit without the -m flag, Git opens your default terminal editor — and on most Linux and macOS servers, that editor is vi(or its improved version, vim).

You will also use vi when:

• Connecting to a remote server over SSH (no GUI available)
• Running git rebase -i (interactive rebase opens an editor)
• Editing config files on a server

The goal here is not to become a vi expert. You just need to know enough to open, edit, and savea file without getting stuck.

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##The Most Important Thing: vi Has Modes

This is what confuses everyone who opens vi for the first time. Pressing a key does not always type that character. vi has three modes, and which mode you are in determines what a keypress does:

  NORMAL MODE (default when you open vi)                     
  Keys are COMMANDS, not text input.                         
  Press 'i' to enter Insert mode.                            
  Press ':' to enter Command-line mode.                      

  INSERT MODE (for typing text)                              
  Now keys type text normally.                               
  Press ESC to return to Normal mode.                        

  COMMAND-LINE MODE (for save, quit, search)                 
  Commands appear at the bottom of the screen.               
  Press ENTER to execute, ESC to cancel.                     

The golden rule: If you are ever confused or something is not working, press ESCuntil you are back in Normal mode. Then start again.

---

##Opening vi

vi filename.txt

If filename.txt does not exist, vi creates it. You open in Normal mode.

You will see a mostly empty screen with ~ on empty lines and the filename at the bottom.

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##Step 1: Enter Insert Mode to Start Typing

From Normal mode, press:

Key	What it does
i	Insert BEFORE the cursor
a	Insert AFTER the cursor (append)
o	Open a NEW LINE below and insert
O	Open a NEW LINE above and insert

You will see -- INSERT -- at the bottom of the screen. Now type normally.

Practice:

1. Open vi: vi practice.txt
2. Press i
3. Type: Hello from vi!
4. Press Enter, type: This is line 2.
5. Press Escape (returns to Normal mode)

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##Step 2: Save and Quit

Press ESC first to make sure you are in Normal mode. Then type : (colon) — you are now in Command-line mode. You will see the cursor jump to the bottom of the screen.

Command	What it does
:w	Write (save) the file
:q	Quit vi
:wq	Write and quit (save and exit)
:x	Same as :wq
:q!	Quit WITHOUT saving (force quit)

The most common sequence you will use:

1. Press ESC
2. Type :wq
3. Press Enter

Done. File saved, vi closed.

If you are STUCK and just want out without saving:

1. Press ESC (maybe a few times)
2. Type :q!
3. Press Enter

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##Navigating (Normal Mode)

Once you have content, you need to move around to edit it.

###Arrow keys work, but vi pros use these:

Key	Movement
h	Left
j	Down
k	Up
l	Right
w	Jump forward one word
b	Jump back one word
0	Go to start of line
$	Go to end of line
gg	Go to top of file
G	Go to bottom of file
5G	Go to line 5

You do not have to memorize all of these right now. Arrow keys work fine — learn the shortcuts gradually as you use vi more.

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##Editing Commands (Normal Mode)

These commands work without entering Insert mode:

Key	What it does
x	Delete the character under the cursor
dd	Delete (cut) the entire current line
yy	Copy (yank) the current line
p	Paste below the cursor
P	Paste above the cursor
u	Undo last action
Ctrl+r	Redo (undo the undo)
r<char>	Replace the character under cursor with <char>

Example — fix a typo on line 3:

1. Navigate to line 3 (use arrow keys or 3G)
2. Move to the typo
3. Press r then type the correct character
4. :wq to save

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##Searching

In Normal mode:

/word    Search forward for "word", press Enter
?word    Search backward for "word", press Enter
n        Jump to next match
N        Jump to previous match

Example:

1. Press /
2. Type def and press Enter
3. Press n to jump to the next function definition

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##The Most Common vi Scenario: Git Commit Messages

When you run git commit (without -m), Git opens vi with a template:

#Please enter the commit message for your changes. Lines starting
#with '#' will be ignored, and an empty message aborts the commit.
##On branch main
#Changes to be committed:
#      modified: app.py
#```

**What to do**:
1. Press `i` (enter Insert mode)
2. Type your commit message on the FIRST line (above the `#` lines)
3. Press `ESC`
4. Type `:wq` and press `Enter`

Git reads your message and completes the commit.

**To abort the commit**(decide not to commit after all):
1. Press `ESC`
2. Delete all text on the first line (navigate there, press `dd`)
3. Type `:wq` — Git sees an empty message and cancels

Or more simply:
1. Press `ESC`
2. Type `:q!` — force quit without saving, Git cancels the commit

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##10-Minute Hands-On Practice

Work through these steps one at a time:

```bash
vi training_notes.txt

Inside vi:

1. Press i, type three lines:

   Git is a version control system.
   It tracks changes over time.
   Branching allows parallel work.
   

2. Press ESC

3. Press :w + Enter — file saved, you stay in vi

4. Press gg — go to top of file

5. Press G — go to bottom

6. Press yy — copy last line

7. Press p — paste a copy below

8. Press u — undo the paste

9. Type /time + Enter — search for “time”

10. Press ESC, then :wq + Enter — save and quit

Confirm it worked:

cat training_notes.txt

---

##Quick Survival Cheatsheet

GETTING IN:
  vi filename     open file
  i               start typing

GETTING OUT:
  ESC             back to Normal mode (do this if confused)
  :wq             save and quit
  :q!             quit WITHOUT saving

EVERYDAY EDITING:
  i               insert before cursor
  o               new line below
  ESC             back to Normal mode
  dd              delete line
  u               undo
  /text           search for text

NAVIGATION:
  Arrow keys      move around (always works)
  gg / G          top / bottom of file

Print this out and keep it next to your screen until vi feels natural.

Next: 04-fixing-mistakes.md — How to undo mistakes safely